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Box Office Analysis: Nov. 10

By:
Martin Grove
Nov 10, 2002

8 Mile opened miles ahead of the competition, topping the chart with a record setting $54.5 million.
The Santa Clause 2 fell only 15 percent, placing second with $24.8 million.
The Ring continued to show great legs, down only 11 percent in third place with $16 million.
I Spy finished fourth, holding decently with $9 million.
Jackass: The Moviewas an okay fifth with $7.2 million.
Driven by 8 Mile, key films were up nearly 17 percent from last year -- $141.6 million versus $121.4 million.
THE TOP TEN
Universal and Imagine Entertainment's R rated drama 8 Mile kicked off in first place, setting a number of records with a muscular ESTIMATED $54.46 million at 2,470 theaters ($22,050 per theater), the year's fifth biggest opening.
8 Mile's average per theater was the highest for any film playing in wide release this weekend.
Directed by Curtis Hanson and produced by Brian Grazer, it stars Eminem, Kim Basinger, Brittany Murphy and Mekhi Phifer.
"It set a record for the largest opening on its playdate," Universal distribution president Nikki Rocco said Sunday morning. "It's Curtis Hanson's record. It's Brian Grazer's second biggest opening -- and that's only behind $55.1 million (for) Grinch. It's the fourth largest non-holiday November opening behind Harry Potter, Monsters, Inc. and Grinch. And these are all family films. It's the largest November R rated film and the second largest R rated film (opening ever, following) Hannibal at $58 million."
Who was on hand opening weekend? "Under-25 was the audience," Rocco explained. "There's no question this is a film (people) under 25 are going to embrace on opening weekend. 69 percent was under 25. That's not to say there weren't some adults that sampled it -- 31 percent was over the age of 25. We knew we would (reach the young audience) because the main reason for wanting to come see 8 Mile was Eminem. It also drew a slightly more female audience -- 53 percent of the audience was female. It was very ethnically mixed across all quadrants -- Caucasian, African-American, Hispanic, Asian and Other. (These are) all great signs."
The studio's exit polls showed that 86 percent of the opening weekend audience rated 8 Mile in the Top Two Boxes (excellent and very good).
Asked if Universal will go wider with the film, Rocco noted, "We'll see tomorrow (Monday). This is not about numbers of playdates. If there are theaters that can support opening the film and playing through Thanksgiving, I will consider it. This is not about numbers. I think the story is that it's not necessary to be in over 3,000 playdates to launch a film of this magnitude.
"I think we were very smart covering as many markets in North America as we could, not over saturating the markets and making sure these theaters were amply covered with additional prints so they had enough seats. More (theaters) is not necessarily better. We were in 2,470 playdates, but we also had over 3,900 screens. We made sure there were an ample number of seats (to accommodate audiences)."
Buena Vista/Disney's G rated comedy sequel The Santa Clause 2 slid one peg to second place in its second week with a still happy ESTIMATED $24.8 million (-15%) at 3,352 theaters (+2 theaters; $7,397 per theater). Its cume is approximately $60.1 million, heading for $100 million-plus.
Directed by Michael Lembeck, it stars Tim Allen.
The original Santa Clause in its second weekend (Nov. 18-20, 1994) was third with $17.1 million (-11%) at 2,201 theaters ($7,786 per theater). Its cume after 10 days was $40.6 million. It went on to gross $144.6 million in domestic theaters.
DreamWorks' PG-13 rated horror thriller The Ring dropped one rung to third place in its fourth week, still holding well with an ESTIMATED $16.0 million (-11%) at 2,927 theaters (+119 theaters; $5,490 per theater). Its cume is approximately $86.1 million, heading for $100 million-plus.
Directed by Gore Verbinski, it stars Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson and Brian Cox.
Columbia's opening of its PG-13 rated comedy I Spy fell one notch to fourth place in its second week, holding respectably with an ESTIMATED $9.0 million (-29%) at 3,182 theaters (theater count unchanged; $2,828 per theater). Its cume is approximately $24.7 million.
Directed by Betty Thomas, it stars Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson.
Paramount and MTV Films' R rated comedy Jackass: The Movie was down one slot to fifth place in its third week with a less funny ESTIMATED $7.2 million (-43%) at 2,532 theaters (+2 theaters; $2,844 per theater). Its cume is approximately $53.3 million.
Directed by Jeff Tremaine, it stars Johnny Knoxville.
"It's (going to get to) $60 million-plus now, maybe $65 million," Paramount distribution president Wayne Lewellen said Sunday morning. "It could get to $70 million if it hangs around. It has surprised me from Day One."
IFC Films' release of Gold Circle Films and HBO's PG rated romantic comedy blockbuster My Big Fat Greek Wedding held on to sixth place in its 30th week, still showing outstanding legs with an ESTIMATED $5.75 million (+2%) at 1,975 theaters (-2 theaters; $2,917 per theater). Its cume is approximately $192.8 million, heading for $215 million in domestic theaters.
Directed by Joel Zwick, it stars Nia Vardalos and John Corbett.
Buena Vista/Touchstone's PG-13 rated romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama held on to seventh place in its seventh week with an okay ESTIMATED $3.8 million (-17%) at 2,004 theaters (-437 theaters; $1,912 per theater). Its cume is approximately $118.6 million, heading for $125 million in domestic theaters.
Directed by Andy Tennant, it stars Reese Witherspoon.
Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow's R rated horror film Ghost Ship sank three fathoms to eighth place in its third week with a choppy ESTIMATED $3.16 million (-53%) at 2,361 theaters (-426 theaters; $1,338 per theater). Its cume is approximately $26.2 million, heading for $33-35 million.
Directed by Steve Beck, it stars Julianna Margulies.
Warner Bros.' release of Quinta Communications' R rated thriller Femme Fatale from Franchise Films opened ninth with a calm ESTIMATED $2.83 million at 1,066 theaters ($2,655 per theater). Its cume after five days is approximately $3.5 million.
Directed by Brian De Palma, it stars Antonio Banderas and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos.
"This is a Franchise Films (movie) distributed by us," Warner Bros. Distribution president Dan Fellman said Sunday morning. "The filmmakers are very pleased with the numbers and we're happy to do the service.
"The picture played very well in New York, L.A., San Francisco, Toronto and Chicago. It had trouble in the mid-section of the country. The exit polls in the big cities were good, but not as good in the small cities. It was about 60-40 male-female. It got very good reviews. It will hang on for a few weeks in the U.S. and, hopefully, maintain itself in the big cities for a while. And I think it will be a very good video."
Revolution Studios and Columbia's R rated romantic comedy drama Punch-Drunk Love, which was eighth last week, tied for tenth place in its fifth week with an unexciting ESTIMATED $2.6 million (-39%) at 1,293 theaters (+41 theaters; $2,011 per theater). Its cume is approximately $14.6 million.
Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, it stars Adam Sandler and Emily Watson.
Miramax's R rated drama Frida, which continued to expand in its third week, tied for tenth place with an encouraging ESTIMATED $2.57 million at 319 theaters (+272 theaters; $8,066 per theater). Its cume is approximately $4.3 million.
Directed by Julie Taymor, it stars Salma Hayek.
OTHER OPENINGS
This weekend also saw the arrival of Focus Features' PG-13 rated drama Far From Heaven to a very promising ESTIMATED $0.21 million at 6 theaters ($34,500 per theater).
Directed by Todd Haynes, it stars Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid and Dennis Haysbert.
"It's really huge," Focus distribution president Jack Foley said Sunday morning. "I've (looked at) the biggest (limited release) openings that have happened since August -- Punch-Drunk Love, One Hour Photo, Frida, The Good Girl, Igby Goes Down, Bowling For Columbine-- and it ranks number five among them. Those have been big openings. Punch-Drunk Love, had a $76,000 print average. One Hour Photo, was $45,000. Frida was $41,000. Good Girl was $37,000. We're sitting with a $34,500 print average. Based on how sophisticated this film is, it'd be wonderful if we can do the same business as these other films. I don't put it in the same category as Punch-Drunk Love or One Hour because (they had superstars like Adam Sandler and Robin Williams), but my God this is huge!"
Asked about expansion plans, Foley said, "We're going to be going into 13 markets next weekend. They'll be the top markets (like) Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, Chicago, etc. The runs will be varying from limited multiples -- for instance, in San Francisco we'll be in about six theaters, where the film should be explosive -- to exclusive runs, for instance, in Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix and Portland. We should be on 37 or 38 screens next weekend. The reviews have been perfect because they've really delved into how wonderful a film it is and how well it's (been) made, as well as the entertainment value.
"It uses the language of film in an exciting and a sort of revitalized way. You've never seen anything like this before. It's so amazing. It's such a sophisticated movie."
SNEAK PREVIEWS
There were no national sneak previews this weekend.
EXPANSIONS
On the expansion front this weekend United Artists' R rated satiric documentary Bowling For Columbine released via MGM went wider in its fourth week with a still compelling ESTIMATED $1.65 million at 222 theaters (+60 theaters; $7,432 per theater). Its cume is approximately $6.9 million.
Written, produced and directed by Michael Moore, it won the Special Jury Prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
HBO Films and Newmarket Films' PG-13 rated comedy drama Real Women Have Curves added theaters in its fourth week with a slow ESTIMATED $0.5 million (+6%) at 148 theaters (+24 theaters; $3,385 per theater). Its cume is approximately $1.9 million.
Directed by Patricia Cardoso, it stars America Ferrera, Lupe Ontiveros and George Lopez.
Miramax's Comedian expanded in its fifth week with a weak ESTIMATED $0.5 million (-28%) at 244 theaters (+19 theaters; $2,032 per theater). Its cume is approximately $1.8 million.
Directed by Christian Charles, it stars Jerry Seinfeld.
Artisan Entertainment's R rated comedy Rodger Dodger widened in its third week with an okay ESTIMATED $0.17 million at 34 theaters (+9 theaters; $4,853 per theater). Its cume is approximately $0.4 million.
Artisan said it will expand this Friday (Nov. 15) into 16 more key markets, adding another 20 theaters.
Written and directed by Dylan Kidd, it stars Jennifer Beals, Elizabeth Berkley, Jesse Eisenberg, Isabella Rossellini and Campbell Scott.
WEEKEND COMPARISONS
Key films -- those grossing more than $500,000 -- took in approximately $141.65 million for the weekend, up about 16.73 percent from last year when they totaled $121.35 million.
Key films were up about 24.94 percent from the previous weekend this year when they totaled $113.37 million.
Last year, Buena Vista/Disney's second week of Monsters, Inc. was first with $45.55 million at 3,269 theaters ($13,934 per theater); and Fox's opening week of Shallow Hal was second with $22.52 million at 2,770 theaters ($8,129 per theater). The top two films one year ago grossed $68.1 million. This year, the top two films grossed an ESTIMATED $79.3 million.

Top Story
Frank Ramaesiri, the St. Louis jewelry salesman who sold the video of a topless sunbather to Penthouse, telling the magazine it was Anna Kournikova, testified on Tuesday he mistakenly thought the woman was the tennis star due to the diameter of her nipples. Now how would Ramaesiri, a non-professional photographer, know the diameter of Kournikova's nipples, you may ask? Reuters reported that the salesman told the court he had seen pictures of the Russian beauty in a sweat-soaked tennis dress revealing her nipples, and "the diameter matched what we had on film," he said. Plus, he added, the sunbather looked Russian.
The "sunbather" was actually Judith Soltesz-Benetton, the daughter-in-law of fashion designer Luciano Benetton. While Penthouse has issued a formal apology to both Kournikova and Soltesz-Benetton, the women are still pursuing cases against the infamous magazine for damages.
Celebs
Steven Spielberg is finally making his life complete--he's graduating from college. After dropping out nearly three decades ago to pursue his career, the famed director, 55, will receive a bachelor's degree from California State University Long Beach, where he recently finished courses in the film and electronic arts major.
Jason Alexander, on the other hand, wants to teach college. The former Seinfeld star will be instructing other young actors on the University of Southern California campus under the George Burns Distinguished Visiting Professor in Performance program.
Rapper Jay-Z won't be moving into that $6.5 million penthouse in New York's trendy TriBeCa complex, after all. He pulled out of the deal without giving a reason, but owner Peter Arnell blames neighbors for sabotaging the deal. Arnell claims two tenants, Lynn Fisher-Hill and Lewis Taffer, posted notices in the halls, referring to the rapper's criminal record and lifestyle of violence, The Associated Press reports.
Jennifer Lopez shelled out the dough for her new Miami home. She recently bought a $9.5 million waterfront mansion in Miami Beach, with a view of Biscayne Bay. Her celebrity neighbors include Lenny Kravitz, Ricky Martin and the Bee Gees, Barry and Robin Gibb.
Casting Call
Bernadette Peters and Gregory Hines, two veterans of the Broadway stage, will be hosting the Tony Awards June 2. This marks the second time for Hines, who co-hosted with Glenn Close and Nathan Lane in 1994. It'll be the first hosting gig for Peters.
Anne Heche may be heading for Broadway lights. She could replace the departing Jennifer Jason Leigh in David Auburn's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Proof at the Walter Kerr Theater in New York. Mary-Louise Parker originated the play's lead role of Catherine, the grief-stricken, troubled daughter of a math genius, in spring 2000.
In the Biz
Another large ensemble piece for Robert Altman? Go figure. Variety reports the veteran director may sign up to helm The Company, a large ensemble project about ballet dancers, with Neve Campbell (Scream) attached to star as a young dancer distracted by other things. Apparently, there are about 50 roles to be had--piece of cake for Altman.
Music News
Jay Kay, the lead singer of the funk band Jamiroquai, was involved in an altercation Wednesday at the post-premiere party for Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones in London. Kay's agent told Reuters the singer found his new car damaged and confronted the suspected culprit. Kay suffered some facial injuries.
There is no love lost between rapper Eminem and Vice President Dick Cheney's wife, Lynne Cheney. She has been very vocal in her criticism of the recording industry, often citing Eminem's music as offensive. He countered by flinging a four-letter word at her in his song, "White America," on his soon-to-be released album The Eminem Show. Now, now, Marshall.
Honored
In a rare appearance, three of rock and roll's greatest legends--Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Bo Diddley--were honored by Broadcast Music Inc. They received BMI's Icon Awards at the 50th annual pop music awards show Tuesday and were recognized for their "unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers," Reuters reports.

Will Smith is keeping up his part of the "populate the earth" mandate. The 31-year-old rapper turned TV star turned movie star is expecting his third career child -- and his second by wife Jada Pinkett Smith, the actor's publicist confirmed today. The baby's due in November.
Smith and Pinkett Smith, 28, already have a son, Jaden, born in July 1998. He also has a son, Willard Smith III (or Trey), born in 1992 to his first wife.
Will and Jada wed on New Year's Eve 1997. He'll next be seen in the Robert Redford-directed "The Legend of Bagger Vance."
MIAMI SOUND MACHINE: Popster Gloria Estefan lent her voice to the Elian Gonzalez controversy today, joining those who say the 6-year-old Cuban boy should remain in Florida and not be returned to his native country. Estefan herself was born in Havana.
HOPE THEY'RE NOT RUSHING INTO THIS: Ex-"NYPD Blue" cop Jimmy Smits, 44, and longtime live-in love Wanda De Jesus ("The Insider") are planning (finally) to tie the knot, he tells USA Today. "It just seems like the natural thing to do," Smits says. No word on the date.
NEW BABE IN TOWN: Hollywood hyphenate Albert Brooks (writer-director-actor) and wife Kimberly welcomed the birth of their second child, daughter Claire Elizabeth, Monday at a Los Angeles hospital.
WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW THEY KNOW THIS: According to the British tab the Express, supermodel Naomi Campbell, 29, has been told by doctors that she should retire from the catwalk for one year if she wants to conceive a child with billionaire boyfriend Flavio Briatore.
TOGETHER AGAIN: Jane Fonda, 62, will receive an honorary degree and estranged husband Ted Turner, 61, will deliver the commencement address at May 15 graduation ceremonies for Boston's Emerson College, the school said today. The couple was invited -- individually -- before word of their separation leaked in January. And the couple -- individually -- is keeping their date.
FROM CANCELLATION TO SOCIAL SECURITY: Ian Ziering, who has played "teen-ager" turned "twentysomething" Steve Sanders on "Beverly Hills, 90210" for the Fox series' entire 10-season run, turns 36 today. Really.

Bobby Garfield (David Morse) returns to his small hometown to attend the funeral of his childhood friend and remembers the fateful summer in 1960 when his whole world changed. The story flashes back to when 11-year-old Bobby (Anton Yelchin) and his best friends Carol (Mika Boorem) and Sully-John (Will Rothhaar) capture the pure joy of youthfulness. When a mysterious stranger named Ted Brautigan (Anthony Hopkins) moves upstairs and starts to pay attention to Bobby the boy suddenly realizes what's truly missing from his life--the love of a parent. Bobby's mother Liz (Hope Davis) is embittered by the death of Bobby's father and shows little compassion for her son's growing needs. Ted fills a void with the boy opening his eyes to the world around him and helps Bobby come to terms with his real feelings for Carol--and his mother. But Ted also has some deep dark secrets of his own and Bobby tries hard to stop danger from reaching the old man.
The performances make the film especially in the genuine camaraderie of the kids. Yelchin Boorem and Rothhaar never deliver a false move with an easiness that makes us believe we are simply watching three 11-year-old children grow up together. Yelchin in particular is able to get right to the heart of this young boy who misses his father and clings to the only adult who will listen. And his scenes with Boorem simply break your heart. (Davis) does an admirable job playing a part none too sympathetic. She manages to show a woman whose been beaten down but who does truly love her son in her own way. Morse too is one of those character actors you can plug in any movie and get a performance worth noting. In Hearts you want to see more of him. Of course the film shines brightest when Hopkins is on the screen. It may not be an Oscar-caliber performance but the actor is unparalleled in bringing a character to life--showing the subtleties of an old man looking for some peace in his life.
If you are expecting the Stephen King novel you may be disappointed. Screenwriter William Goldman and director Scott Hicks (Shine) deftly extracted the King formula of telling a story through a child's eye and explaining how the relationships formed as a child shaped the adult later. Hicks did an amazing job with his young actors especially Yelchin and Boorem. But where the novel continued into a supernatural theme explaining Brautigan's fear of being captured by "low men in yellow coats" (a reference to King's The Dark Tower series) the movie downplayed the mystical elements instead giving real explanations for Brautigan's man-on-the-run. That was the one problem with Hearts--we needed more danger. Introducing men from another dimension may not have been the way to go but had there been more tension the film would have resonated more especially when Bobby risked his own safety to save Ted.

He was an invincible robot in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," but can Robert Patrick defeat the skeptics? Patrick has been named to fill David Duchovny's shoes on the upcoming eighth season of "The X-Files," according to today's Hollywood Reporter.
Patrick reportedly won out over several others who tested for the role, including Bruce Campbell, Lou Diamond Phillips and Hart Bochner.
The name of Patrick's character has not been divulged by the show's creators, but he will nonetheless play Gillian Anderson's new partner.
There is no word yet as to whether the new agent will be a believer in the paranormal, as Duchovny's Agent Fox Mulder is, or a skeptic, a la Anderson's Agent Scully.
The search for a new "X-Files" agent made headlines recently after Duchovny decided to scale back his "X-Files" commitment to just 11 epsiodes in the coming season.

Dimension Films' "Scream 3" made the weekend's biggest waves at the box office, holding on to first place despite 20th Century Fox's strong launch for Leonardo DiCaprio's "The Beach."
"Scream 3" took a hefty second weekend drop but still sliced off an estimated $16.40 million (-53%) at 3,467 theaters (theater count unchanged, $4,730 per theater). Its total is approximately $57.1 million.
In December 1997, "Scream 2's" second weekend gross of $13.9 million was down 58%. It went on to gross about $101.3 million in domestic theaters.
"It's actually a better drop than expected considering where we opened," Miramax Senior Vice President, Marketing, David Kaminow said Sunday morning. "Looking at 'Scream 2,' after 10 days, we were at $55 million. On 'Scream 3' after 10 days, we're at $57 million. So we're on a good track and feel good about that."
Directed by Wes Craven, "Scream 3" was produced by Cathy Konrad, Kevin Williamson and Marianne Maddalena. It reunites Craven with David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox Arquette and Liev Schreiber. Also starring are Patrick Dempsey, Scott Foley, Matt Keeslar, Jenny McCarthy, Emily Mortimer, Parker Posey, Deon Richmond, Kelly Rutherford and Patrick Warburton.
Twentieth Century Fox's launch of its R-rated adventure drama "The Beach" washed ashore in second place with a high tide estimated $15 million at 2,546 theaters ($5,891 per theater).
Its per-theater average was the highest for any film in wide release last weekend.
Directed by Danny Boyle, "The Beach" stars DiCaprio and Virginie Ledoyen.
"It's good," Tom Sherak, 20th Domestic Film Group chairman and senior executive vice president of Fox Filmed Entertainment, said Sunday morning. "The audience was about 57% female and 43% male. Fifty-five percent of the audience was 18-25.
Everybody seems to be thrilled about it. No question, they came to see (DiCaprio) -- the biggest reason to go to the movie (according to exit polls). And young girls liked it the best.
"Everybody's happy (about it at Fox). Some people have asked me (about) it's not being No. 1. Well, when a movie does $34 million in its first week, (a film opening the next week) is not going to be No. 1. No. 1 is a wonderful thing, but it's not the wherewithal for a movie. There have been so many movies that haven't been No. 1 that have gone on to do a lot of business. Hopefully, this will be one of them."
Paramount and Nickelodeon Movies' PG-rated comedy "Snow Day" opened in third place to a blizzard of ticket sales with an estimated $14.80 million at 2,664 theaters ($5,556 per theater).
"Snow Day" is directed by Chris Koch and stars Chevy Chase.
"I think it's phenomenal," Paramount Distribution President Wayne Lewellen said Sunday morning. "It's way beyond where we thought it could get. I thought, maybe, $12 million would be our top simply because 'Tigger' was in the marketplace at the same time. And, really, nothing had ever done this kind (of business) -- you're talking $23-25 million between the two pictures."
There were differences between the two family films' audiences. "Snow," Lewellen said, was "a little bit older. Their picture, based on the research, really stopped at about 6 years old, and we could get to, like, 12- and 13-year-olds. Obviously, their being in the market affected us because they took some of the younger kids who were going to our film. But for the two pictures to do this level of business is just phenomenal."
Lewellen added that the marketplace expanded with two new family films opening: "I think, maybe, the two pictures had a synergy getting the people out. The younger people like to go see both movies.
Fourth place went to Disney's kickoff of its G-rated animated "The Tigger Movie" with a bouncy estimated $9.21 million at 2,723 theaters ($3,382 per theater). The film is the animated adventures of the familiar "Winnie the Pooh" character.
"I'm so happy," Buena Vista Distribution President Chuck Viane said Sunday morning. "Based on everything that we felt, this is really at the upper end of the opening weekend projection. Next Monday is a holiday, and what historically happens is that whatever you do in the three days of this weekend you come right back and do in the four days of next weekend. When the end of the year rolls around, this movie will probably rank up there with some of the most profitable. Everything was done the right way, and it is going to be extremely profitable.
"What a wonderful weekend for general audience movies. 'Snow Day' did wonderfully. We did wonderfully. And, yet, if you look inside the numbers, we don't compete with each other. We're younger and a tad more female. We're 56% female. I'm sure if you looked inside 'Snow Day's' numbers, they'd be a little heavier male than female. We're really complementary to the marketplace."
Rounding out the Top Five was Universal's R-rated Oscar contender "The Hurricane," down three slots in its seventh week but still holding well with an estimated $3.61 million (-27%) at 2,078 theaters (-70 theaters, $1,735 per theater). Its total is approximately $42.4 million.
Directed by Norman Jewison, it stars recent Golden Globe winner Denzel Washington as wrongly imprisoned boxing champion Rubin "Hurricane" Carter.
Warner Bros. and Castle Rock Entertainment's R-rated death row drama "The Green Mile" held on to sixth place in its 10th week with a still OK estimated $3.04 million (-24%) at 2,012 theaters (-323 theaters, $1,513 per theater). Its total is approximately $124.4 million, heading for $140 million in domestic theaters.
Written and directed by Frank Darabont, it stars Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan.
New Line's R-rated urban-appeal hit comedy sequel "Next Friday" dropped three slots to seventh place in its fifth week with a still respectable estimated $2.82 million (-34%) at 1,364 theaters (-56 theaters, $2,071 per theater). Its total is approximately $49.4 million.
Directed by Steve Carr, it was written by, stars and was produced by Ice Cube.
Columbia's PG-rated family comedy "Stuart Little" finished eighth, down five pegs in its ninth week in the face of competition from two new family-appeal films with a less exciting estimated $2.70 million (-43%) at 2,351 theaters (-351 theaters, $1,148 per theater). Its total is approximately $132 million, heading for $140 million or more in domestic theaters.
Directed by Rob Minkoff, it stars Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie and Jonathan Lipnicki.
"It's been having its own way for many weeks," Sony Pictures Releasing President Jeff Blake said Sunday morning. "There's no question, both (new family) pictures gave us a hit. But we think we'll hang on, certainly past the $140 million mark and, I think, we'll get to the mid-$140 millions. We're still in 2,351 runs and although we'll lose some, there's a lot of interest in continuing to play this picture, especially over the holiday weekend coming up."
Looking ahead to the Oscar nominations Tuesday morning, Blake said, "It will be interesting to see what impact the Academy Award nominations have. Certainly, only the No. 5 and 6 pictures this week out of the Top Ten are interested in that result plus the re-release of 'American Beauty.' It certainly seems like the top four plus (the two films opening next weekend) 'Hanging Up' and 'The Whole Nine Yards' are all going to be pretty hard to get by.
"It does not look like the rewards are going to be immediate (for films with Oscar nominations) because it does look like kids and, hopefully, the women for us on 'Hanging Up' will rule things (next weekend). As I say, I think it's not necessarily going to be the Academy weekend next weekend. It looks like a lot of very entertaining (new or very recent) pi tures will probably be on top."
Blake said that "Hanging Up" will open at about 2,500 theaters. Directed by Diane Keaton, the PG-13-rated comedy stars Meg Ryan, Diane Keaton, Lisa Kudrow and Walter Matthau.
DreamWorks' PG-rated sci-fi fantasy comedy "Galaxy Quest" was ninth, down two notches in its eighth week with a less exciting estimated $2.20 million (-34%) at 1,589 theaters (-350 theaters, $1,385 per theater). Its total is approximately $65.8 million, heading for about $70 million in domestic theaters.
Directed by Dean Parisot, it stars Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman.
Rounding out the Top Ten was Destination Films' R-rated psychological thriller "Eye Of the Beholder," down five rungs in its third week with a quiet estimated $2.11 million (-49%) at 1,583 theaters (-168, $1,331 per theater). Its total is approximately $15.1 million.
Directed by Stephan Elliott, it stars Ewan McGregor and Ashley Judd. Destination reportedly picked up the independently made film for domestic release for about $4 million.
OTHER OPENINGS
Last weekend saw the arrival of no other noteworthy openings.
SNEAK PREVIEWS
Last weekend saw Warner Bros. hold national sneak previews Saturday night of Morgan Creek and Franchise Pictures' R-rated comedy "The Whole Nine Yards."
Directed by Jonathan Lynn, it stars Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry. It was written by Mitchell Kapner, produced by David Willis and Allan Kaufman and executive produced by Elie Samaha and Andrew Stevens.
"We had over 800 sneaks and polled more than half (of them)," Warner Bros. distribution executive Jeff Goldstein said Sunday morning. "Of the theaters we polled, the reaction (was) 98% between good and excellent. On the capacity side, 95% were between 75% and 100% capacity. Those two pieces of information tell the whole story -- we had really good sneaks."
"Yards" opens Friday at more than 2,800 theaters.
EXPANSIONS
On the expansion front, last weekend saw Buena Vista/Touchstone expand its R-rated Oscar contender thriller "The Sixth Sense" in its 28th week to be in the marketplace when Academy nominations are announced Tuesday morning. "Sense" placed 18th with a quiet estimated $1.04 million at 831 theaters (+611 theaters, $1,254 per theater). Its total is approximately $279.5 million.
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, it stars Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment.
USA Films R-rated drama "Topsy-Turvy" went wider in its eighth week, placing 20th with a quiet estimated $0.72 million at 223 theaters (+93 theaters, $3,240 per theater). Its total is approximately $3.2 million.
Written and directed by Mike Leigh, it stars Jim Broadbent and Allan Corduner.
Fox Searchlight Pictures' R-rated drama "Titus" went a bit wider in its eighth week, placing 32nd with an OK estimated $0.11 million at 19 theaters (+2 theaters, $5,815 per theater). Its total is approximately $1 million.
Directed by Julie Taymor, it stars Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange and Allan Cumming.
USA Films' reissue of the PG-rated suspense/cop drama "Rear Window" widened slightly in its fourth week, placing 33rd with an OK estimated $0.10 million at 17 theaters (+2 theaters, $5,790 per theater). Its total is approximately $0.4 million.
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, it stars Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly. Robert Harris and James Katz restored the 1954 film classic.
Fine Line Features' G-rated Oscar contender for Best Foreign Language Film, "The Cup," widened in its third week, placing 34th with an OK estimated $0.064 million at 12 theaters (+8 theaters, $5,330 per theater). Its total is approximately $0.2 million.
Directed by Khyentse Norbu, it is the story of attempts to hook up a satellite dish at a Tibetan monastery so its soccer fan monks can watch the 1998 World Cup matches.
Warner Bros. R-rated comedy "The Big Tease" expanded in its third week, placing 36th place with a quiet estimated $0.030 million at 10 theaters (+6 theaters, $2,855 per theater). Its total is approximately $0.1 million.
Directed by Kevin Allen, it stars Craig Ferguson and Frances Fisher.
WEEKEND COMPARISONS
Key films -- those grossing more than $500,000 for the weekend - took in approximately $84.17 million. Comparisons cannot be made to last year when the comparable weekend was the four-day Presidents Day holiday weekend.
This year, the four-day Presidents Day weekend is one week later (Feb. 18-21). This weekend's key film gross was down about 1.19% compared with the previous weekend when key films grossed $85.18 million.
Last year, Warner Bros.' opening week of "Message In A Bottle" was first with $18.85 million for four days at 2,538 theaters ($7,428 per theater) and Paramount's second week of "Payback" was second with $17.72 million at 2,751 theaters ($6,441 per theater). The top two films one year ago grossed $36.6 million for four days. This year, the top two films grossed an estimated $31.4 million for three days.
STUDIO MARKET SHARES
Based on business by key films, last weekend's top six distributors were the following:
Miramax (Miramax, Dimension) was first with three films ("Scream 3," "Down To You" and "The Cider House Rules") grossing an estimated $19.5 million or 23.2% of the market.
Paramount was second with three films ("Snow Day," "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Angela's Ashes") grossing an estimated $17.66 million or 21% of the market.
Twentieth Century Fox was third with one film ("The Beach") grossing an estimated $15 million or 17.8% of the market.
Buena Vista (Touchstone and Disney) was fourth with three films ("The Tigger Movie," "Toy Story 2" and "Fantasia 2000") grossing an estimated $12 million or 14.3% of the market.
Sony Pictures Entertainment (Columbia, TriStar) was fifth with three films ("Stuart Little," "Girl, Interrupted" and "The End Of the Affair") grossing an estimated $4.75 million or 5.6% of the market.
Warner Bros. was sixth with two films ("The Green Mile" and "Any Given Sunday") grossing an estimated $3.76 million or 4.5% of the market.
ADDITIONAL ESTIMATES
(11) "Fantasia 2000"/BV/Disney: Theaters: 54 (0) (all IMAX in U.S.) Gross: $1.80 million (-6%) Average per theater: $33,333 Total: $27.4 million (worldwide)
(12) "The Talented Mr. Ripley"/Paramount/Miramax: Theaters: 1,266 (-563) Gross: $1.76 million (-29%) Average per theater: $1,390 Total: $78 million
(13) "The Cider House Rules"/Miramax: Theaters: 802 (-32) Gross: $1.60 million (-17%) Average per theater: $1,995 Total: $22.7 million
(14) "Down to You"/Miramax: Theaters: 1,719 (-284) Gross: $1.50 million (-45%) Average per theater: $872 Total: $18.5 million
(15) Girl, Interrupted/Columbia: Theaters: 1,380 (-483) Gross: $1.35 million (-47%) Average per theater: $978 Total: $27 million
(16) "Angela's Ashes"/Paramount: Theaters: 614 (0) Gross: $1.10 million (-28%) (tie) Average per theater: $1,792 Total: $10.2 million
(16) "Toy Story 2"/BV/Disney: Theaters: 1,249 (-339) Gross: $1.10 million (-53%) (tie) Average per theater: $816 Total: $238.6 million
(18) "The Sixth Sense"/BV/Touchstone: (see EXPANSIONS above)
(19) "Magnolia"/New Line: Theaters: 497 (-332) Gross: $0.85 million (-34%) Average per theater: $1,710 Total: $20.5 million
(20) "Topsy-Turvy"/USA Films: (see EXPANSIONS above)
21) "Any Given Sunday"/Warner Bros.: Theaters: 1,031 (-526) Gross: $0.72 million (-30%) Average per theater: $695 Total: $74.8 million
(22) "The End of the Affair"/Columbia: Theaters: 585 (-96) Gross: $0.70 million (-34%) Average per theater: $1,197 Total: $9.5 million
(23) "The World Is Not Enough"/MGM: Theaters: 768 (-74) Gross: $0.45 m illion (-30%) Average per theater: $590 Total: $125.8 million
(24) "Snow Falling on Cedars"/Universal: Theaters: 504 (-296) Gross: $0.40 million (-45%) Average per theater: $800 Total: $13.5 million
(25) "Gun Shy"/BV/Hollywood: Theaters: 296 (0) Gross: $0.37 million (-47%) Average per theater: $1,256 Total: $1.3 million
(26) "Being John Malkovich"/USA Films: Theaters: 173 (-34) Gross: $0.25 million (-21%) Average per theater: $1,440 Total: $21.6 million
(27) "Isn't She Great"/Universal: Theaters: 369 (-381) Gross: $0.20 million (-69%) Average per theater: $545 Total: $2.9 million
(28) "End of Days"/Universal: Theaters: 276 (-67) Gross: $0.17 million (-19%) Average per theater: $620 Total: $66.4 million
(29) "The Bone Collector"/Universal: Theaters: 294 (-35) Gross: $0.17 million (-20%) Average per theater: $580 Total: $66.0 million
(30) "Simpatico"/Fine Line: Theaters: 222 (-34) Gross: $0.16 million (-65%) Average per theater: $718 Total: $0.9 million
(31) "Man on the Moon"/Universal: Theaters: 322 (-161) Gross: $0.15 million (-42%) Average per theater: $450 Total: $34.4 million
(32) "Titus"/Fox Searchlight: (see EXPANSIONS above)
(33) "Rear Window"/USA: (see EXPANSIONS above)
(34) "The Cup"/Fine Line: (see EXPANSIONS above)
(35) "My Dog Skip"/Warner Bros. Theaters: 29 (-1) Gross: $0.060 million (-47%) Average per theater: $2,075 Total: $0.5 million
(36) "The Big Tease"/Warner Bros. (see EXPANSIONS above)

"Scream 3" and "Titus" haven't hit the shelves of video stores yet, but if you stop off at the market on your way home today, you might be able to buy them. But bring your inheritance, because they'll probably cost you six figures.
The horror hit and the Shakespearean tragedy are just two of the roughly 350 movies that are up for grabs (that is, if you happen to be an overseas film distributor) at the market -- the American Film Market, that is -- the annual international trade show for the motion picture industry, running here today through March 1. Founded in 1981, the AFM is now the largest movie market in the world, and organizers say about $400 million in licensing deals will be inked in the coming week.
The AFM isn't a film festival -- there are no awards, and don't expect to see Sundance stalwarts such as Ben Affleck and Steven Soderbergh making the rounds. But it is a high-power event nonetheless, and this year's market features the world premiere of movies starring (and featuring possible -- albeit remotely -- appearances by) Sharon Stone, Burt Reynolds, Mercedes Ruehl, Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen, and others.
In recent weeks there also has been rumblings that director Martin Scorsese will drop in to generate interest in his forthcoming "Gangs of New York," the indie movie with the whopping $80 million budget and Leonardo DiCaprio. Ever since Robert De Niro quit the movie last year, word-of-mouth has spread that the project is in trouble; Scorsese's German financiers recently told Daily Variety that the director could restore confidence in the movie by appearing at AFM.
The backbone of the market are dozens of buyers representing international distributors who will be wheeling and dealing for the overseas theatrical rights to high-profile American studio and independent movies such as "Scream 3" or the video and TV rights to lower-budgeted productions.
Then there are the premieres, all of them featuring recognizable, if not necessarily bankable, stars. The films bowing as part of the AFM Premiere Screenings series include: "The Last Producer," starring Burt Reynolds, Benjamin Bratt and Lauren Holly, directed by Reynolds; "Picking Up the Pieces," starring Sharon Stone, Woody Allen and Kiefer Sutherland; Estevez and Sheen's "Rated X," a biopic of pornography mavens the Mitchell brothers, directed by Estevez; "Wayward Son," starring Harry Connick Jr.; "Steal This Movie," starring Vincent D'Onofrio, Janeane Garofalo and Kevin Pollak; and "Other Voices," starring Stockard Channing, Peter Gallagher, Rob Morrow and Campbell Scott.
Lots of foreign films are also screened for North American distributors. In all, AFM organizers say there will be about 7,000 people attending from about 70 countries.
Most of the deal making takes place in and around the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, the market's headquarters, while the films are screened at theaters located within a few blocks of the beach. In all, about 600 screenings are scheduled on 23 screens.

"Charlie's Angels" kicked off to a divine, butt-kicking $40.5 million, sending weekend ticket sales soaring about 37% over last year.
Columbia's PG-13 action adventure comedy had been a high flyer on Hollywood's advance radar screen with insiders anticipating a $25-30 million opening. Instead, "Angels" arrived to a spectacular, record-setting ESTIMATED $40.5 million at 3,037 theaters ($13,335 per theater).
"Angels" had the highest per-theater average for any film playing in wide or limited release last weekend.
"It's the biggest non-summer opening ever -- period," Sony Pictures Entertainment worldwide marketing &amp; distribution president Jeff Blake said Sunday morning. Noting that "Angels" helped push weekend ticket sales by all key films in the marketplace to nearly $101 million, he added, "It's the first $100 million weekend since Labor Day."
"Non-summer" excludes comparisons to films opening from May through July. Also excluded are comparisons to films that opened, as some have done for Thanksgiving in the past, on a platform basis and then went wide in their second weekend.
"It's also the biggest opening for a first time director," Blake pointed out, applauding McG, the award-winning commercial and music video director who makes his feature film directorial debut with "Angels." "The over-$40 million (openings before this) all were directed by somebody who had done (a feature) before."
The film's audience, Blake said, was "men and women and a mix of all ages 13 to 40. That was the key. It was slightly more female than male, but only 55%-45% and men responded as much as women. On our CinemaScores, we got an A- overall and an A from both young males and young females. The mix of ages was, I think, the real key to (its success). Sixty-five percent were over 21, which speaks to some of the nostalgia, but it really had entertainment value for a wide mix of ages.
"Clearly, we had more than one audience. As we've all seen, sometimes you get that spectacular Friday (from the young audience) and you don't get the expansion you hope from Saturday (from the adult audience). This was up 21% from an amazing Friday of $13.5 million to a more amazing $16.5 million."
Asked where "Angels" is likely to wind up in domestic theaters, Blake replied, "The average performance off a $40 million opening usually is about three and a half times. 'Water Boy' even did a little better than that. They opened to $39.4 million in 1998 and ended up doing $161 million."
So is $150 million possible for "Angels?" in domestic theaters? "We will keep our fingers crossed," he said. "It may not be out of reach certainly with the good mix of ages and the different kinds of audiences we've got going and responding well."
"Angels" is clearly a shot in the arm for what has been a lackluster box office this fall. "There's no question, there's a lot of great films this November that I think everybody's been looking forward to," Blake noted. "It's certainly been 'Meet the Parents' and 'Remember the Titans' carrying the load for the last month. Now, I think, this has proven to be a film for everybody. I think (when you look at) the product coming up, it's maybe not for everybody, but certainly there is something for everybody."
With "Angels" leading the way, indications are that Columbia should have a very strong fourth quarter in theaters. "We hope to keep our winning streak going with (Phoenix Pictures') 'The 6th Day,' which is really an exciting action film from Arnold Schwarzenegger (and directed by Roger Spottiswoode)," Blake said. "It's been received very well so far. It's opening Nov. 17 and we're going to be in probably 2,700 or 2,800 runs."
Columbia's mountain climbing action adventure "Vertical Limit" opens Dec. 8, Blake said, in 2,400 to 2,500 theaters. Directed by Martin Campbell, it stars Chris O'Donnell and Scott Glenn.
"If we can get the mix of ages and interest we got in 'Charlie's Angels,' we're going to be in great shape," Blake added. "I think that's the key."
Directed by McG, "Angels" stars Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu and Bill Murray.
Universal's PG-13-rated blockbuster comedy "Meet the Parents" gave up first place to "Angels," but fell only to second place, not to third as Hollywood handicappers had anticipated.
"Parents" was still showing great legs in its fifth week, down one peg to second place with a still impressive ESTIMATED $13.07 million (-13%) at 2,672 theaters (+25 theaters; $4,890 per theater). Its cume is approximately $116.9 million, heading for a domestic theatrical gross of $150 million-plus.
"Parents'" international release is through DreamWorks Pictures, which co-financed the film and will share equally in its success.
"'Meet the Parents' is a film that's continuing to prove its strength week after week after week," Universal distribution president Nikki Rocco said Sunday morning. "It's a film that I don't think anyone would have thought would be a Thanksgiving holiday contender and now it is."
Asked where "Parents" is likely to wind up in its domestic theatrical run, Rocco replied, "$150 million-plus. Every week, I keep on saying, 'Let's see what happens next week.' The fact is that 'Meet the Parents' is a bonafide blockbuster and it stands on its own."
Directed by Jay Roach (director of both "Austin Powers" hits), "Parents" stars Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller.
Rocco also pointed to the continuing success of the critically-acclaimed, R-rated drama "Billy Elliot" from the studio's specialized film arm Universal Focus. "Billy," a likely contender for Golden Globe and Oscar nominations, went wider in its fourth week, placing 13th with a very encouraging ESTIMATED $1.06 million at 119 theaters (+82 theaters; $8,890 per theater). Its cume is approximately $2.9 million.
"We're moving along with 'Billy Elliot' as we planned," Rocco said. "The expansion in the many markets we're open in proved to be very successful. "'Billy Elliot' next weekend is between 400-500 playdates. It's certainly a picture that the word of mouth has continued to spark audiences to see in the theaters that have already been open. The head-to-heads (comparisons) are virtually flat (showing virtually no decline from the previous weekend)."
Directed by Stephen Daldry, "Billy" stars Julie Walters, Gary Lewis, Jamie Bell, Jamie Draven and Adam Cooper.
DreamWorks' PG-13 period piece drama "The Legend of Bagger Vance" opened in third place with a solid ESTIMATED $12.0 million at 2,061 theaters ($5,843 per theater).
Directed by Robert Redford, "Bagger" stars Will Smith, Matt Damon and Charlize Theron.
Buena Vista/Disney's PG-rated football drama "Remember the Titans" fell one notch to fourth place in its sixth week, still holding incredibly well with an ESTIMATED $7.00 million (-12%) at 2,737 theaters (-66 theaters; $2,612 per theater). Its cume is approximately $96.8 million, heading for $110 million in domestic theaters.
Directed by Boaz Yakin and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman, "Titans" stars Denzel Washington.
Artisan Entertainment's R-rated sequel "Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2" fell four rungs to fifth place in its second week with a quiet ESTIMATED $5.3 million (-60%) at 3,320 theaters (+3 theaters; $1,596 per theater). Its cume is approximately $22.1 million.
Directed by Joe Berlinger, "Blair Witch 2" stars Kim Director, Jeffrey Donovan, Erica Leerhsen, Tristen Skylar and Stephen Barker-Turner.
20th Century Fox's PG-13-rated comedy "Bedazzled" fell two pegs to sixth place in its third week with a slow ESTIMATED $4.67 million (-40%) at 2,500 theaters (-71 theaters; $1,870 per theater). Its cume is approximately $30.8 million.
Directed by Harold Ramis, "Bedazzled" stars Brendan Fraser and Elizabeth Hurley.
Warner Bros.' PG-13-rated drama "Pay It Forward" dropped two rungs to seventh place in its third week with a less rewarding ESTIMATED $4.39 million (-36%) at 2,130 theaters (theater count unchanged; $2,059 per theater). Its cume is approximately $25.2 million.
Directed by Mimi Leder, "Pay It Forward" stars Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment.
New Line Cinema's PG-rated family film "The Little Vampire," a very low cost pick up, fell two notches to eighth place in its second week with an anemic ESTIMATED $3.55 million (-38%) at 2,009 theaters ($1,767 per theater). Its cume is approximately $9.3 million.
Directed by Uli Edel, "Vampire" stars Jonathan Lipnicki.
Paramount's R-rated romantic comedy "Lucky Numbers" dropped two digits to ninth place in its second week with an unhappy ESTIMATED $2.18 million (-53%) at 2,528 theaters (+31 theaters; $860 per theater). Its cume is approximately $7.9 million.
Directed by Nora Ephron, "Numbers" stars John Travolta and Lisa Kudrow.
Rounding out the Top Ten was Dimension Films' R-rated action adventure "The Legend of Drunken Master," down one notch in its third week with a calm ESTIMATED $1.6 million (-35%) at 1,183 theaters (-162 theaters; $1,352 per theater). Its cume is approximately $9.8 million.
Directed by Lau Ka Leung, it stars Jackie Chan.
OTHER OPENINGS
This weekend also saw the arrival of Providence Entertainment's PG-13-rated drama "Mercy Streets," placing 24th with a soft ESTIMATED $0.085 million at 175 theaters ($485 per theater).
Directed by Jon Gunn, it stars Eric Roberts.
SNEAK PREVIEWS
There were no national sneak previews this weekend.
EXPANSIONS
On the expansion front, Universal's critically-acclaimed, R-rated drama "Billy Elliot" from the studio's specialized film arm Universal Focus, went wider in its fourth week, placing 13th with a very encouraging ESTIMATED $1.06 million at 119 theaters (+82 theaters; $8,890 per theater). Its cume is approximately $2.9 million.
Directed by Stephen Daldry, "Billy" stars Julie Walters, Gary Lewis, Jamie Bell, Jamie Draven and Adam Cooper.
Artisan Entertainment's controversial unrated drama "Requiem For A Dream" expanded in its fifth week, placing 21st with a sexy ESTIMATED $0.26 million at 25 theaters (+21 theaters; $10,400 per theater). Its cume is approximately $0.9 million.
Directed by Darren Arnonofsky, "Requiem" stars Jared Leto and Ellen Burstyn.
"We took it to the top 15 cities, and we're the number one specialized film out there," Artisan distribution head Steve Rothenberg said Sunday morning. "Our plan is to add five, 10, 15 cities every week through the holidays. We're making a concerted effort to see if we can garner an Academy Award nomination for Ellen Burstyn. She's gotten great reviews and her performance is great. And we think we have a shot, so that's what our plan is -- to build slowly through the holidays."
WEEKEND COMPARISONS
Key films -- those grossing more than $500,000 for the weekend -- took in approximately $100.92 million, up about 37.07% from the comparable weekend last year when key films grossed $73.63 million.
This weekend's key film gross was up about 34.71% from this year's previous weekend when key films grossed $74.92 million.
Last year, Universal's opening week of "The Bone Collector" was first with $16.71 million at 2,587 theaters ($6,460 per theater); and Warner Bros.' second week of "House on Haunted Hill" was second with $7.71 million at 2,710 theaters ($2,846 per theater). The top two films one year ago grossed $24.4 million. This year, the top two films grossed an ESTIMATED $53.6 million.
STUDIO MARKET SHARES
Based on business by key films (those grossing $500,000 or more), last weekend's top six distributors were:
Sony Pictures Entertainment was first with one film ("Charlie's Angels"), grossing an ESTIMATED $40.5 million or 40.1% of the market.
Universal was second with two films ("Meet the Parents" and "Billy Elliot"), grossing an ESTIMATED $14.12 million or 14.0% of the market.
DreamWorks was third with two films ("The Legend of Bagger Vance" and "The Contender"), grossing an ESTIMATED $13.4 million or 13.3% of the market.
Buena Vista (Disney and Touchstone) was fourth with one film ("Remember the Titans"), grossing an ESTIMATED $7.0 million or 6.9% of the market.
Warner Bros. was fifth with three films ("The Exorcist," "Pay It Forward" and "Best in Show"), grossing an ESTIMATED $6.76 million or 6.7% of the market.
Artisan Entertainment was sixth with two films ("Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2" and "Dr. T &amp; the Women"), grossing an ESTIMATED $5.86 million or 5.8% of the market.
ADDITIONAL ESTIMATES
(11)Best in Show/Warner Bros.: Theaters: 497 (0) Gross: $1.54 million (-16%) Average per theater: $3,089 Cume: $11.3 million
(12)The Contender/DreamWorks: Theaters: 1,309 (-330) Gross: $1.4 million (-43%) Average per theater: $1,067 Cume: $16.2 million
(13)Billy Elliot/Universal Focus: (see EXPANSIONS above)
(14)The Exorcist/Warner Bros.: Theaters: 950 (-451) Gross: $0.84 million (-47%) Average per theater: $884 Cume: $38.7 million
(15)Lost Souls/New Line: Theaters: 947 (-761) Gross: $0.64 million (-53%) (tie) Average per theater: $675 Cume: $16.4 million
(15)Ladies Man/Paramount: Theaters: 1,340 (-483) Gross: $0.64 million (-58%) (tie) Average per theater: $475 Cume: $13.0 million
(17)Dr. T &amp; the Women/Artisan Ent.: Theaters: 602 (-402) Gross: $0.56 million (-56%) Average per theater: $700 Cume: $12.1 million
(18)Almost Famous/DreamWorks: Theaters: 417 (-290) Gross: $0.49 million (-30%) Average per theater: $1,170 Cume: $30.5 million
(19)Bring It On/Universal: Theaters: 475 (-382) Gross: $0.26 million (-36%) Average per theater: $540 Cume: $67.0 million
(20)Bamboozled/New Line: Theaters: 186 (-57) Gross: $0.24 million (-34%) Average per theater: $1,285 Cume: $1.9 million
(21)Requiem For A Dream/Artisan: (see EXPANSIONS above)
(22)Nutty Professor II: The Klumps/Universal: Theaters: 262 (-86) Gross: $0.18 million (-10%) Average per theater: $685 Cume: $122.6 million
(23)The Yards/Miramax: Theaters: 144 (-2) Gross: $0.17 million (-46%) Average per theater: $1,175 Cume: $0.7 million
(24)MERCY STREETS/Providence Entertainment: (see OTHER OPENINGS above)
(25)Loving Jezebel/Fox Searchlight: Theaters: 25 (-49) Gross: $0.006 million (-87%) Average per theater: $235 Cume: $0.070 million

What the world needs now is ... a new Merv Griffin record! And that's exactly what the world's going to get, thanks to Pat Boone's unwavering dedication to preserving the art of crooning -- that mild, earnest, from-the-heart style of singing love songs.
To that end, Boone held a press conference here today, where he signed Merv to a recording contract and introduced to the world the next Frank Sinatra and/or Harry Connick Jr.
The event took place -- where else? -- at Merv's own Beverly Hilton Hotel, and it was emceed by yet another golden-age fossil, "Laugh-In" announcer Gary Owens.
"I have challenged myself all my life. And what I hadn't done in a long time was make an album," multi-millionaire real-estate mogul (and erstwhile talk-show host) Merv, 75 years young, told Hollywood.com. "And then I had a party, and Barbra Streisand said to me, 'Why aren't you singing?' So I went and did an album, and it came out n-i-i-i-i-ice."
Merv Griffin And while Merv gets ready for the release of his just-completed, yet-untitled CD (his first record in three decades), a young kid from Chesaning, Mich. (pop. 2,700) will enter a recording studio and cut his very first record.
Ryan Robert Dehues won a nationwide crooner talent search held by Boone's Gold Label record company. At 16 years old, Dehues certainly brings down the median age of Boone's other recording artists (Glen Campbell, Lou Rawls, Jack Jones, Sha Na Na, etc.), most of whom are on the other side of 50.
"Ladies in particular like crooners and crooning, going back to Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra," Boone said today. "You look around these days, and you can't find anybody on the horizon that may fill those big shoes, so we wanted to do something about that."
Boone, now 65, had more than 50 hits on the charts between 1956 and 1963. Your parents might remember them: "Love Letters in the Sand," "April Love," "Ain't That a Shame," and so on. In the 1970's he switched to recording gospel stuff, and then in 1997 he recorded the not-very-funny "In A Metal Mood" CD, wearing a studs-and-leather jacket.
Dehues was born long after turntables and LPs, much less swing music and big bands, and he's much too wet behind the ears to have had his heart ripped out by an Ava Gardner. But he looks the part -- clean cut, skinny as Sinatra's microphone stand -- and he's watched enough Sinatra concert videos to cop a few phrasing tricks and moves.
He also knows the right answer when you ask him a question.
"When I was 12, I came upon a Sinatra CD and played it, fell in love with it," the kid says. "That took me to liking Mel Torme, Bobby Darin, Jack Jones. I've loved this music ever since."